Device for displaying a plurality of articles, such as bottles and the like



May 15, 1962 M. NEWMYER ETAL 3,034,657

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY 01? ARTICLES, SUCH AS BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Qmmouo E LwPnT Lwuj M. Nwlwerl y 1962 M. NEWMYER ETAL 3,034,657

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A- PLURALITY OF ARTICLES, SUCH AS BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1959 INVENTOR 12mm om) F. LxPPlTT y 1962 M. NEWMYER ETAL 3,034,657

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES, SUCH AS BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR QAfMOND F. LIPPITT LEWIS M. NENM H;

May 15, 1962 M. NEWMYER ETAL 3,034,657 DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES, SUCH AS BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1959 7 Sheets-Shet 5 o\ 72 80 1 o o [0' o 0 INVENTOR WM Z LENS M. NEWMTEQ M y 15, 196 M. NEWMYER ETAL 3,034,657

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES, SUCH AS BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 9.

INVENTOR'S Epqmoyw F. LIPPITT Lewl5 M. NEWMfEQ May 15, 1962 Filed March 24, 1959 L. M. NEWMYER ETAL DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES, SUCH AS BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENT OR QMMOHD F LsPPITT Law M.NEWM(H2 United States Patent Filed Mar. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 801,475 13 Claims. (Cl. 21l-77) This invention relates to article handlin and more particularly to a device for displaying a plurality of articles, such as bottles and the like.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the device is especially adapted for displaying a plurality of wine bottles, particularly imported. The price of imported wine is largely dependent upon the particular vineyard from which the grapes are taken, the year the grapes were harvested and the aging of the wine. Of course, there are well known names associated with the wine art which recommend the quality of the wine. This information is found on the labels of the bottles and provides the buyer with a guide with which he can determine the quality of the wine therein.

Due to limitations relative to space and the stocking of other products, present merchandising practices with respect to imported wine, in general, do not provide the customer with convenient opportunity to compare various wine labels.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a display device of the type described which is operable to receive and present, in an attractive display, a plurality of rows of wine bottles in such a manner that a customer can readily remove any bottle from a convenient access position for purposes of reading the label or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a wine bottle display device of the type described which takes up relatively little space and is operable to present, in an attractive display, at an optimum level of viewing convenience, an optimum number of bottles within the space requirements.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a display device of the type described embodying a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis having means on the periphery thereof for receiving and supporting a plurality of rows of bottles or the like articles.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a display device of the type described having improved means for supporting a plurality of bottles or the like for rotation about a fiXed horizontal axis so that the bottles are maintained in a locked position in certain predetermined positions of rotation and in other positions of access the bottles are readily removable.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary display device of the type described having an improved means for effecting the locking and unlocking of the bottles during their rotation.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary display device of the type described having an improved bottle carrying drum construction arranged to receive and support a plurality of bottles in a simple, efficient and pleasing manner.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a display device of the type described having a rotary bottle carrying drum and improved means for supporting the drum for rotary movement about a horizontal axis.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

The invention can best be understood with reference "ice to the accompanying drawings wherein illustrative embodiments are shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a wine bottle display device illustrating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the device with parts broken away and in section for purposes of clearer illustration;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view, with parts broken away, of a section of the bottle carrying drum assembly;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional View of the cradle assembly of the device, looking toward the left-hand end of the device;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 looking toward the right-hand end of the device;

FIGURE 8 is an interior end view of the left-hand end stand unit;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 of the righthand end stand unit;

FIGURE 10 is an end view, partly broken away, of a modified form of a display device embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a modification of the means for mounting the bottom engaging member; and

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 showing a modification of bottom engaging structure and the means for mounting the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURES l9 a display device, generally indicated at Id, which embodies the principles of the present invention. In general, the device It) includes an article carrying drum assembly 12 mounted for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis by a cradle assembly 14.

The drum assembly 12 is preferably made up of a plurality of sect-ions or tray-like units 16, such as shown in FIGURE 4. As shown in FIGURE 2, there are six sections in the device, although it will be readily understood that the number may be varied, as desired. Each section is arranged to receive and support a row of articles, such as wine bottles or the like. As shown, each section carries twelve bottles but, here again, the exact number of bottles in the row can be readily varied to suit the particular needs.

In order to present the row of bottles so that the labels thereon are clearly visible, the sections 16 are arranged to engage the same at their bottoms and tops. The bottoms of the row of bottles are received and supported in a series of circular sockets or bores 18 formed in an elongated member 24 slidably mounted between a pair of end members 22. Fixed between the upper edges of the end members 22 in a position to engage the upper extremities of the bottles is a top engaging member 24. A neck engaging member 26, having a series of neck receiving U-shaped sockets or notches 28 formed therein, is fixed between the end members 22 in parallel relation below the top engaging member 24.

Formed in the members 24 and 26 are opposed longitudinally extending grooves 30 and 32, respectively, which receive the upper and lower edges of a retaining bar or slide 34 having a series of downwardly opening notches 36 formed therein. The retaining bar 34 is thus mounted between the members 24 and 26 for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, and the ends thereof extend beyond the end members 22 through suitable openings 38 formed therein and are provided with an outwardly converging tapered cam-like configuration, as indicated at 39.

Each unit 16 also includes a front panel member 40 fixed to the front edges of the members 24 and 26 and having a series of downwardly opening notches 42 aligned with the notches 28 and a back panel member 44 fixed to the rear edges of the end members and extending downwardly in overlapping relation to the bottom receiving member 20.

While the bottom receiving member can be fixed between the end members 22 and to the back panel member 44, it is preferred to mount the same for movement into different positions of adjustment toward and away from the top engaging member 24. Any suitable means may be provided to eifect this adjusted movement and, as shown, a strap 46 is fixed to the under surface of the bottom engaging member at each end thereof. One end portion of each strap 46 extends through a vertically elongated opening 48 formed in the associated end member 22 and the end portion is apertured to rotatably receive the lower end of a bolt or threaded element 50. As shown each bolt is rotatably connected to the associated strap by pairs of nuts 52 mounted on the bolt on opposite sides of the strap. The upper end of each bolt 50 is threadedly mounted within a sleeve 54 fixed to the exterior surface of the associated end member 22 above the strap 46.

It will be seen that turning the bolts 50 adjacent each end member 22, the bottom receiving member 20 can be moved into any desired position of vertical adjustment within the range provided to accommodate various sized bottles. In order to prevent the existence of a gap below bottom receiving member when the latter is disposed in an upper position of adjustment, a lower front panel member 56 is fixed between the side members 22 in front of the member 20.

It will be noted that the end members 22 of each unit 16 is sector shaped with the upper and lower edges thereof disposed at an angle of 60 with respect to each other. When these edges of all of the units 16 are placed in abutting relation, as shown in FIGURE 2, the end members form segmented hollow disks or rings which are secured together by bolts 58 extending through the inner portions thereof and an associated pair of hexagonal plate members 60, which, in turn, are rigidly interconnected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal members 61 extending therebetween.

The cradle assembly 14 comprises a pair of upright frame members 62 rigidly interconnected by a plurality of longitudinal frame members 64 extending between the lower portions thereof. As best shown in FIGURE 6, the left-hand frame member 62 has a vertical member 66 fixed to the central interior surface thereof. The upper end of the member is provided with a semi-circular recess 68 for receiving one end of a shaft 70 (see FIGURE 2) which serves to rotatably receive the drum assembly, as will hereinafter be more fully explained. A corresponding elongated vertical member 72 having a semi-circular recess 74 formed in the upper end thereof for receiving the opposite end of the shaft 70 is fixed to the interior surface of the right-hand frame member 62, as shown in FIGURE 7.

Secured to the outer frame members 64 are front and back panel members 76 and 78 and, at the ends of the panel members, lower arcuate end panels 80 are secured, as by engagement within suitable grooves formed in the frame members 64 and connection with bars 82 extending between the upper ends thereof and the associated upright frame member 62, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Mounted for sliding movement over each upright frame member 62 is an end stand unit 84. Each end stand unit comprises an exterior end panel 86 of a shape similar to that of the associated upright frame member 62. A plurality of interconnected edge members 88 are fixed to the edges of the end panel and a molding strip 89 is preferably mounted over the joints formed between the same. Fixed to the opposite sides of the edge members 88 is an upper arcuate end panel 90 which is complementary to the associated lower arcuate end panel 80. As before a molding strip 92 is secured along the inner side of the edge members 88 so as to cover the joints of the arcuate end panel therewith.

As best shown in FIGURE 8, the left-hand end stand unit 84 has a horizontal cam member 94 fixed between the upper portion of the associated edge members in a position spaced from the associated end panel a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the associated upright frame member 62. The cam member 94 has its lower end provided with an upwardly tapering cam surface 96.

As best shown in FIGURE 9, the right-hand end stand unit 84 has a horizontal cam member 98 secured between the central portion of the associated edge members in spaced relation to the associated end panel a distance sufficient to receive the right-hand upright frame member therebetween. The cam member 98 has its upper end provided with a downwardly tapering cam surface 100.

The device 10 of the present invention is assembled by first securing the sections or tray-like units 16 together to form a complete drum assembly. This is accomplished by engaging the bolts 58 in the aligned apertures therefor provided in the plate members 60 forming the hub and the end panel members of the sections. The plate members 60 are centrally apertured to rotatably receive the shaft 70 and the latter is centrally positioned with respect to the drum assembly.

With the end stand units removed from the cradle assembly 14, the drum assembly 12, with shaft 70 centered therein, is lowered between the upright frame members 62 until the ends of the shaft 70 rest within the recesses 68 and 74. To effect this movement the slides 34 of the drum assembly are moved toward the left-hand end of the device so that the ends thereof engage the interior surface of the associated upright frame member 62. The drum assembly 12 is maintained in a centered position on the shaft 70 between the upright frame members 62 of the cradle assembly by any suitable means and, as shown in FIGURES 3, 5, 6 and 7, each of the vertical members 66 and 72 is provided with a bore 102 within which is mounted a tubular element 104 having a ball 106 mounted in the outer end thereof and a coil spring 108 mounted in the inner end thereof in engagement with the ball for resiliently urging the latter outwardly. The balls 106 are positioned to engage the exterior surfaces of the plate members 60 and the latter are preferably provided with a series of six indentations or notches 109 to receive the associated balls to index the drum assembly 12 in predetermined positions of rotary movement.

After the drum assembly 12 has been positioned between the upright frame members 62 of the cradle assembly 14 in the manner indicated above, the shaft 70 is secured to the upright frame members, by any suitable means, such as screws 112, as shown in FIGURE 5. This securement of the shaft 70 between the upright frame members serves to provide additional stability to the cradle assembly.

The right-hand end stand unit is then lowered down over the right-hand frame member 62 so that the latter passes between the end panel 86 and the cam member 98 thereof. It will be noted that the upper arcuate end panel 90 of the end stand unit is disposed in a transverse plane spaced inwardly from the end panel sufficient to dispose the same on the interior side of the disk formed by the end panel members 62 of the drum assembly. Preferably the end panel 90 overlaps the peripheral edge of the disk provided by the drum assembly. It will also be noted that the lower arcuate end panel is in alignment with the upper arcuate end panel and cooperates therewith and with the drum assembly disk to present an attractive end construction which hides the interior of the cradle assembly at the end thereof.

The assembly of the device is completed by lowering the left-hand end stand over the left-hand upright frame member in the same manner indicated above. Again it will be noted that the upper and lower end panels co-.

operate with the associated end disk of the drum assembly to provide an enclosed end construction.

It will also be noted that in lowering the left-hand end stand unit, the cam surface 96 of the cam member 94 will engage the ends 39 of the slides 34 contacted thereby and move the same longitudinally toward the right-hand end of the device.

In operation, the slides 34 at the upper portion of the drum assembly will be positioned by the cam surface 96 of the cam member 94 so that the notches 36 are in alignment with sockets 28. Thus, when each tray assembly is disposed on the upper portion of the drum assembly, the latter is free to receive bottles therein and such bottles will be supported in the sockets 18 .and 28. As the drum assembly is rotated, cam surface 160 of the cam member 98 will engage the opposite end of the associated slide toward the left as viewed in FIGURE 3 thus moving the solid portions of the slide into a position of engagement with the outer surface of the neck of the bottles carried in the associated tray. In this way the bottles are securely locked against movement outwardly of the drum assembly. It will also be noted that the lower surface of the associated tray member 24 will engage the top of the bottles to secure them against any substantial longitudinal movement.

It will be understood that the bottle top engaging surface of the members 24 may be lined with felt, rubber, foam rubber or other suitable material which will serve to deaden the noise and otherwise provide a cushioning effect to the bottles. In a like manner, feit or foam rubber inserts may be secured in the bottom of sockets 18. Alternatively, the members 21) may be made of two pieces, one a solid bottom piece and the other an upper piece with the sockets 18 formed therein, between which a strip of cushioning material can be secured.

It will be understood that the principles of the present invention can be readily embodied in modifications of the construction described above and shown in FIG- URES -12 of the drawings. For example, the slides 34 can be replaced with swingable rods or bars 110, as shown in FIGURE 10. Each bar 110 extends through suitable arcuate slots 111 formed in the associated end tray members 22 and has its ends connected to one end of an arm 112 of a bell crank 114 pivoted, as at 116, to the associated end member 22. Each bell crank 114 also includes a second angularly related arm 11$ having a roller 120 mounted on the outer end thereof. A cam 122 is mounted in fixed relation on each end of the shaft 70 and includes a peripheral cam surface 124 for engagement with the rollers 120 in a position adjacent the ends of the drum assembly. The cam surfaces 124 are formed to eifect a pivotal movement of the bell cranks 114 so that the bars 110 will be moved between opened and locked positions in response to the rotation of the drum. To this end, springs 126 are connected between arms 112 and the associated end tray member to maintain the rollers 126 in contact with the cam surfaces 124.

Other means may be provided for effecting the adjustment of the bottle bottom engaging member 20. For example, as shown in FIGURE 11, the member 20 can be spring urged toward the associated top engaging member 24. To this end, the bolt 50 at each end of the member 20 could be replaced by a bolt 130 which extends upward through the strap 46 and an apertured bracket 132 secured to the adjacent end member 22 in place of bracket 54. A coil spring 134 of the compression type is mounted in surrounding relation to the upper end of the bolt and has its lower end engaging the bracket 132 and its upper end engaging a nut 136 threaded on the upper end of the bolt.

Still another embodiment is shown in FIGURE 12. It will be understood that with a unitary bottom engaging member, such as the member 20, each tray must receive bottles which have generally the same height. As shown in FIGURE 12, the member 20 may be replaced by a plurality of separate members 141 each having a socket 142 formed therein. The sockets 142, as shown, are frusto-conical in form so as to snugly accommodate bottles of various diameters. Each member is slidably mounted in a rigid member 144 fixed between the end members 22 below the members 140 by any suitable means such as a bolt 146 fixed in the bottom of each member and extend through a registering aperture 143 in the rigid member 144. A coil spring 156 is mounted in surrounding relation to each bolt 146 between the rigid member 144 and associated member 1 :0.

It wiil be understood that any of the modifications described above and shown in FIGURES 10l2 may be readily employed in the preferred embodiment with or without any of the others. The device is preferably con structed of wood although it will be apparent that other materials or combination of materials may be used such as metal, plastic or the like.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGURES l9, it is possible to utilize only two short cam elements, one of which serves to move the slides 34 into an open position and the other serves to move the slide into a closed position. It is preferable, however, to make the cam surfaces which engage the slide ends 39 continuous and in this regard it will be noted that arcuate cam tracks 101 are provided in the right hand end frame of the cradle assembly as best shown in FEGURE 7. With this arrangement slides are positively maintained at all times against movement out of their proper longitudinal relationship. Moreover, this arrangement permits operation of the slides in either direction of rotation of the drum assembly.

While the present device has been disclosed as being particularly applicable to displaying bottles, it will be understood that other articles may be utilized as, for example, mens, womens and children's shoes. It will also be understood that name plates and price tags can be suitably mounted on the device to indicate the various articles carried thereby. It is also within the contemplation of the present invention to connect a power source, such as an electric motor or the like, to the drum for the purpose of driving the same, although manual actuation is preferred. With the manual actuation of the drum assembly the indexing means serves to prevent gravitational rotation of the drum assembly as a result of an unbalancing of the articles carried thereby.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiments have been shown and described only for the purpose of ilustrating the principles of the invention and it is subject to further extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modification encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. A display device for bottles or the like comprising a drum assembly, means supporting said drum assembly for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said drum assembly including means defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced series of bottle bottom receiving sockets extending in row formation in a direction parallel with said axis, means defining a plurality of corresponding series of neck receiving sockets extending in row formation in generally circumferentially spaced relation with respect to said bottom receiving sockets, said bottom and neck receiving socket defining means being operable to support bottles received therein against movement inwardly of the periphery of said drum and to permit substantially free movement of bottles received therein outwardly of the periphery of said drum assembly, means mounted on said drum assembly for movement into and out of a position of operative engagement with the entire series of bottles supported by each series of socket defining means thereby preventing said substantially free outward movement of the series of bottles supported in the associated socket defining means, and means operable in response to rotation of said drum assembly for effecting movement of said last-mentioned means into and out of said bottle engaging position.

2. A display device as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom receiving socket defining means comprises an elongated member and means mounting said member on said drum assembly for movement toward and away from said neck receiving sockets.

3. A display device for bottles or the like comprising a drum assembly, means supporting said drum assembly for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said drum assembly including means defining a pair of spaced end members, a bottle neck engaging member extending between said end members, said neck engaging member having a series of longitudinally spaced outwardy facing sockets formed therein for receiving the necks of a series of bottles, a bottle top engaging member extending between said end members in spaced relation to said neck receiving member, said top engaging member having surface means for engaging the top of the series of bottles, bottle bottom engaging means extending between said end members defining a series of longitudinally spaced bottom receiving sockets and surface means facing the surface means of said top engaging member for engaging the bottom of the series of bottles, and means extending between said end members movable into and out of a bottle engaging position disposed between said top engaging member and said neck engaging member outwardly of the sockets of the latter, and means operable in response to the rotation of said drum assembly for effecting movement of said last-mentioned means into and out of said position.

4. A display device as defined in claim 3 wherein a front panel member is mounted between said neck engaging member and said top engaging member, said front panel member having a series of notches formed therein in alignment with said neck engaging sockets.

5. A display device as defined in claim 3 wherein said neck engaging member and said top engaging member have opposed longitudinal grooves formed therein, and said movable means includes an elongated member arranged to be received in said grooves.

6. A display device as defined in claim 5 wherein said elongated member extends outwardly through said end member and is slidably mounted between said grooves, said elongated member having a series of notches formed therein for movement into alignment with said neck receiving sockets when said elongated member is disposed out of said bottle engaging position.

7. A display device as defined in claim 6 wherein said drum assembly supporting means comprises a pair of spaced upright frame members rigidly interconnected at their bottom portions, a horizontal shaft fixed between the central portions of said upright frame members and rotatably receiving said drum assembly, a pair of end panel assemblies slidably mounted over said upright frame members, said end panel assemblies including cam members engaging the ends of said elongated slidable members and constituting the means for effecting the movement of the latter into and out of said bottle engaging position.

8. A display device as defined in claim 5 wherein said elongated member extends outwardly through said end members and wherein arms are pivoted to said end members and connected to the outwardly extending ends of said elongated member to mount the same for swinging iovement between said grooves.

9. A display device as defined in claim 8 wherein said movement effecting means comprises cams fixedly carried by said drum assembly supporting means at opposite ends of said drum assembly, said cams having peripheral cam surfaces and second arms fixed to said first arms engaging said cam surfaces.

10. A display device as defined in claim 3 wherein said bottom socket and surface means defining means comprises an elongated bottom engaging member mounted between said end members for movement toward and away from said top engaging member.

11. A display device as defined in claim 10 wherein said bottom member is mounted between said end members by means rigidly securing the same in a plurality of adjusted positions.

12. A display device as defined in claim 10 wherein said member is mounted between said end members by means resiliently urging the same toward said top engaging member.

13. A display device as defined in claim 3 wherein said bottom socket and surface means defining means comprises a rigid member fixed between said end members and a plurality of bottom engaging members each defining a single socket and surface means mounted on said rigid member for movement toward and away from said top engaging member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 499,449 Bronner June 13, 1893 1,007,414 Bass Oct. 31, 1911 1,293,410 Goodwin Feb. 4, 1919 2,246,431 Cochran June 17, 1941 2,305,348 King Dec. 15, 1942 2,477,786 Bruen Aug. 2, 1949 2,575,745 Carlson Nov. 20, 1951 2,777,605 Watlington Jan. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,294 France Jan. 22, 1934 (First addition of 731,343) 94,135 France Feb. 22, 1872 

